Gingrich Drops Court Bid to Get on Virginia Primary Ballot

[maddezmom]

Newt Gingrich, who is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for president, dropped his court bid to be added to Virginia’s primary ballot.

Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, asked the U.S. Appeals Court in Richmond, Virginia, today to dismiss his case challenging the state’s primary rules.

Gingrich “has voluntarily dismissed his claims pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia,” according to the two-page filing. “Accordingly, this matter is moot.”

A three-judge appeals panel last month rejected a request from Texas Governor Rick Perry and Gingrich to block the state from printing ballots and distributing absentee ballots for the March 6 primary while their appeals seeking to be included on the ballots were pending.

more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-06/gingrich-drops-court-bid-to-get-on-virginia-super-tuesday-primary-ballot.html

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

1. It Was a Futile Effort--Political Parties Have Enormous Latitude

with respect to establishing procedures for choosing their candidates.

Moreover, Article II, §1, cl.4, provides that Congress may only determine the "time" of choosing presidential electors.

[COLGATE4]

2. Newt is moot!

[Alexander]

3. Pretty embarrassing since that's where he lives. Same goes for Santorum.

If those two stay in the race, I could see either Romney or Paul hitting them with a one-liner at a debate: "You couldn't even get on the ballot in the state where you currently live, and you think you're prepared enough to be the leader of the free world?"